Haven’t tried those silicone things either… they look intimidating, honestly.
Honestly, I felt the same way about those silicone flossers at first—like, why mess with what works? But after getting braces, regular floss just got impossible for me. The silicone ones looked like mini torture devices, but they’re actually not bad once you get past the weird texture. Have you ever tried using a floss threader? It’s kind of a pain at first but it did help me get into the habit when I had wires everywhere.
Also, about the fancy mint stuff—my dentist always pushes it too, but I swear my teeth feel just as clean with the cheap stuff. I think they just want us to have options, but at the end of the day, whatever gets us flossing is good enough, right? Do you find your gums bleed less if you stick to a routine for a week or two? That’s pretty much the only way I know I’m doing it right...
I totally get the intimidation factor—those silicone flossers look like something from a sci-fi movie. I stood in the aisle staring at them for way too long before buying a pack, then let them sit unopened for weeks. When I finally worked up the nerve, it was... weird at first. The texture is kind of squishy and rubbery, but it didn’t hurt like I worried it would. I still haven’t figured out if I’m using them “right,” but my dentist hasn’t yelled at me yet.
Floss threaders are a whole other thing. I tried using one when I had my wisdom teeth out and food kept getting stuck. It took me ages to get the hang of it—like threading a needle in your mouth, honestly. But yeah, after a week or so, my gums stopped bleeding as much. I guess that’s progress? Still, I can’t shake the worry that I’m missing spots.
Also, about the cheap vs. fancy floss—I use whatever’s on sale. My gums don’t seem to know the difference, but maybe my wallet does.
I totally get wanting to save money, but I actually noticed a difference with the “fancy” floss. The cheap stuff kept shredding in my teeth and honestly made me more stressed out about the whole thing. I switched to a pricier one after my gums bled for weeks, and it was way smoother—less fighting with it, less pain. Might just be me, but sometimes paying a little more helped me stick with the routine.
Yeah, I used to buy the cheapest floss I could find, thinking it didn’t really matter. Ended up getting so frustrated—kept snapping or getting stuck between my teeth. Eventually switched to a more expensive brand after my hygienist suggested it and honestly, it made flossing way less of a hassle. My gums stopped hurting too. Sometimes a couple extra bucks is worth it for the peace of mind.
Sometimes a couple extra bucks is worth it for the peace of mind.
I totally get where you’re coming from, but I actually had a different experience. I was frustrated with cheap floss too, but before switching brands, I started using a gentle sawing motion instead of snapping it between my teeth. That helped a lot with breakage and pain. Also, waxed floss (even the store brand) slid way easier for me than the regular kind. Just my two cents—sometimes technique or type makes more difference than price.